As a Digital Literacy Specialist for the Central Piedmont libraries, I stay closely aware of digital‑skilling efforts that support all students. As students prepare for the workforce, verified digital skills and true digital fluency are essential-not optional. Our libraries play a very important role in training technology to students and the public.
Since the publication of Marc Prensky's Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants (2000), some academic institutions have assumed that students already possess adequate digital skills while others do not. This belief unintentionally created an opportunity for higher‑education finance leaders to scale back funding for student technology training. Over time, this decision fostered a technology training "survival of the fittest" culture that still exists today. Students who cannot self-train are considered invisible collateral damage.
"The greatest trick ever played on higher education was the belief that students did not need technology training."
Walking onto a college campus now often assumes prior knowledge of their institutional technology required for a course of study. Students are rarely asked whether they know how to navigate required digital tools-they are simply expected to self-train, go to the library for training, or go untrained. As a result, students without prior digital skilling or technology training are learning technology and the course content at the same time; this is a hardship. The hard knock approach to resiliency does not work on every student.
This is why the National Skills Coalition continues to advocate for funding that supports digital skilling aligned with today's-and tomorrow's-workforce needs. When primary, secondary, and higher education systems delay or deflect responsibility for technology training, inequity grows, and opportunity narrows.
"Let's send a clear message to Washington: we recognize this gap, and we are committed to ensuring a workforce that is truly digitally ready for work.
Consider helping to strengthen digital skills training and workforce opportunities across Washington. This is a quick action that should only take 2 minutes.
The bipartisan, bicameral Digital Skills for Today's Workforce Act has just been reintroduced in Congress. This legislation would bring new federal resources to states - including Washington - to expand digital skills training for workers facing barriers to employment, and incumbent workers who need upskilling.
What we need from you:
We are asking partners to contact your legislators and encourage them to co-sponsor the Digital Skills for Today's Workforce Act. This will help ensure Washington receives its share of federal resources and that our communities benefit from high-quality digital skills training.
This takes less than two minutes.
Use the NSC action form below; once you enter your information, it automatically sends a message to your congressional delegation. The form also includes a draft message that you can customize as you see fit.
Form: https://secure.everyaction.com/IcFSLHxuhkG2Z3fKfYxbOg2
More from the bill: How states access these funds:
To receive funding, states must submit a brief application outlining how they will:
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- Expand digital workplace skills quickly and effectively;
- Use and track the funds; (ARPA and HEERF funding could have done better tracking)
- Build digitally resilient systems and communities; (If academic institutions won't then industries have to)
- Align other state and federal funding streams; and
- Demonstrate their capacity to administer the program.
If a state does not apply, the U.S. Department of Labor can instead fund eligible entities so the dollars still reach local communities.
- Digital Equity Advances in Congress: Digital Skills for Today's Workforce - National Skills Coalition
- The "Digital Skills for Today's Workforce" Act introduced in Congress on April 17, 2024, by Senator Kaine (D-VA), Representative Spanberger (D-VA-07), and Representative Valadao (R-CA-22), address.
Thank you for supporting our students and clients.
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Donald Michael
Digital Literacy Specialist
Central Piedmont Community College
He/Him/His
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